Oddly addictive (Train Simulator (PC))

Member Name: forzaf1

Product:	Train Simulator (PC)
Date:	21/08/02 (279 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: smooth graphics, difficult to master

Disadvantages: sound abit naff

You may think to yourself, how can a game where you drive a train for between 30mins and 2 hours be addictive?

This is what I first thought when I saw the game in a game shop. I had a look at the back and I did think to myself that can driving a train bring much satisfaction? I play games to use up spare time and to feel like I have accomplised things and MS Train Sim didn't seem that like that type of game.

So I went back home and decided to have a look at some writeups on it. First...its Microsoft so your paying maybe abit extra in the price but I got mine from Ebay so I didn't have to pay much :) Also..because its Microsoft it means that it will be quality and not something with naff graphics, crashes and is totally unrealistic. Far from it with this game.

The idea is you learn to drive different types of trains from a steam train to the latest electric bullet train. Each train is different to drive. But first you get get a tutorial which tells you the buttons (on the keyboard) of how to move it and stop the train etc. Each train has different tasks do do so for example if your driving the latest electric train...you may have to get from 1 state to the other in the quickest time..but you HAVE to obey the speed limits as there is track repair etc. So you can be travelling at 125mph and see that track repair is in progress so you have to knock the speed down to 30mph and travel for a mile like that. But some will say that surely you just set the speedo to the right speed then go off and make your dinner and come back 30mins later. Its not that simple and it really does take skill and practice to make sure you slow down the train at the right time...to early..you lose time..to late and you lose the train. With the diseal trains you will have to collect wagons and ferry them around, electric you have to pick up passengers and steam...the same.

This is American made remember but you get to ride the sub-way in Japan and the O
rient Express in the UK. The rest is all based in the US.

You can buy add on packs for the game which will allow you to drive the TGV into the Eurotunnel etc. These are about £20 and there is quite a few available.

Other than the train...the graphics are great...and very smooth. You will need a fast PC. I have a P3...plus your need 500mb of space as it runs off the hard drive and not CD. The sound is ok...but abit abrupt. So say you travel over a bridge...the sound changes but when you reach the end of the bridge the sound stops...so really it should fade away. It snows and it rains aswell....so more effects for you to drive in.

Alex

Summary: